A PRIVATE jet service operating from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang is believed to have been used by an international syndicate to transport drugs from Laos to Manila, following a booking made by an individual from the Philippines.
Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, Director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), said preliminary investigations revealed the flight was booked by a Filipino national, believed to be the syndicate's mastermind, about a week before the incident (on September 23) at US$49,500 (RM210,000).
According to him, the flight manifest initially indicated that the booking was for transporting goods described as "vapes" from Laos to Manila.
"However, we believe the service was utilised by the syndicate to smuggle drugs from Laos to the Philippines.
"We are still investigating whether the operation was confined to the Laos-Philippines route or if there was also an attempt to bring the drugs into Malaysia," he said at the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent headquarters today.
He added that the police have shared this information with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to assist in locating the individual, who is believed to be currently in the Philippines.
He noted that investigations are also underway to determine whether the airline company's owner is linked to the syndicate or if they were merely victims of service misuse.
"We possess details regarding the individual who made the booking and will take further action in accordance with international procedures, given the involvement of multiple countries.
"As of now, I can confirm that the drugs did not originate from Malaysia; they were being transported from Laos to the Philippines. We believe the route originated from the Golden Triangle area heading toward the destination country," he said.
Media reports yesterday stated that four individuals, including a Malaysian pilot who owns the aircraft, were detained on suspicion of links to the seizure of a private plane from Malaysia.
The aircraft was involved in an attempt to smuggle 521 kilograms (kg) of crystal methamphetamine (syabu) from Laos to the Philippines on October 1.
The 49-year-old pilot was detained alongside a 47-year-old Singaporean co-pilot and two Malaysian women, a 37-year-old doctor and a 33-year-old nurse. – October 9, 2026
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